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Infielders play stellar defense behind Buchholz

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Holt's diving stop 0:36

8/25/14: Brock Holt makes a diving stop on Edwin Encarnacion's hard-hit grounder up the middle, pops up and fires to first for the out

By Jamie Ross
/
MLB.com |

TORONTO -- The Red Sox's defense played an important role in snapping the team's eight-game losing streak against the Blue Jays on Monday night, making several flashy plays in the field to keep Toronto off the board until the ninth inning.

"The defense played probably as good as I've ever seen the defense play," said starter Clay Buchholz, who took a no-decision after pitching 8 1/3 innings of Boston's 4-3 victory in 10 innings.

Brock Holt robbed Edwin Encarnacion of a base hit in the bottom of the second, diving to snag a sharp grounder up the middle before jumping to his feet in time to toss across the diamond in order to get Encarnacion at first.

Dustin Pedroia got in on the action in the third, making a diving stop of his own in the hole at second to take a hit away from Jose Reyes with two out and a runner on second base, potentially saving a run.

Will Middlebrooks contributed a pair of key defensive plays of his own, first turning an inning-ending double play with Pedroia in the seventh before sprawling to make a play on a Munenori Kawasaki grounder that he fielded and fired to first on, beating Kawasaki by an eyelash.

Holt, who came through with a huge 10th inning on the basepaths and in the batter's box, said Buchholz created the opportunity for the infield to make those key defensive plays by inducing grounders.

"It's our job to play behind him," Hold said. "Get him off the field and get the offense back in the box."

Jamie Ross is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.